The beloved physician Luke wrote how Paul began to give defense for himself before a hostile Jewish crowd in Hebrew by saying, “I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as you all are this day. And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. As also the high priest does bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished. And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come near unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecute you me?”, and in chapter twenty-two and verse eight of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul told that he asked, “who are you, Lord?” where we read:
And I answered, Who are you, Lord? And he said unto me,
I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute.
The verse begins, “And I answered, Who are you, Lord? And he said unto me, ...” Luke began with the words, “and I answered” which means “and I, Paul, began to speak, responded to and asked the voice”, “who are you, Lord” or “what person do you exist as One to whom a person or thing belongs about which he has power of deciding; master, and the title given to God the Messiah”? “And he said unto me” which means “and he, the voice who spoke, uttered, declared and proclaimed to Paul” the following words. Luke shared how “Paul” told the Jewish multitude that he asked who the person was behind the “voice” that spoke to him, and the “voice” responded to “Paul” with the following words.
The verse continues, “... I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute.” Luke added the words, “I am Jesus” which means “I exist as Jesus, whose name means Jehovah is Salvation and is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate” “of Nazareth” or “belonging to the city of Nazareth whose name means one separated”, “whom you persecute” which means “that you, Saul or Paul, drive away, harass, trouble and mistreat”. Luke shared how “Paul” told the Jewish crowd that the “voice” identified itself as “Jesus” to whom “Paul” was “harassing” and “causing trouble”.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul”, who was known as “Saul”, asked who was talking to him when the bright light appeared. The “Lord Jesus” revealed His identity to “Paul” and indicted him for his “persecution”. In other words, “Jesus” knew what “Paul” was doing, and He made known his offense against Him. “Jesus” knows everything about everyone, and regardless of whether they know it or not, He loves them enough that He died for their sins. The reason “Jesus” came to the world was to “save” people from the penalty of sins which is death, (See Romans 6:23) and anyone who believes and trusts in Him as their “Savior and Lord” will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Let all who read these words hear the “voice” of Jesus speaking within their hearts and surrender to Him as their “Lord”.
Next time Luke shares how Paul says, “they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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